Sheila Hicks

While out and about this past weekend, this blogger visited the Renwick Gallery. If you recall, our fearless readers, you’ve read about the Renwick here at Waggle Dancing before.

The Silk Rainforest

While the Renwick is fabulous and has many interesting works of art (including my current favorite painting), they had a beautiful new work there by Shiela Hicks in the upstairs gallery called The Silk Rainforest.  Made from silk, linen and cotton from about 1975, this work was recently gifted to the museum by Bob and Lynn Johnston. Don’t be deceived – this piece is HUGE, estimated by me to be about 6′ x 30′ in size.

Sheila Hicks is an internationally recognized artist. She was born in Hastings, Nebraska and received her BFA and MFA degrees from Yale University. Upon completing her studies at Yale Hicks received a Fulbright scholarship in 1957 to paint in Chile. While in South America she developed her interest in working with fibers. After founding workshops in Mexico, Chile, and South Africa, and working in Morocco and India, she now divides her time between her Paris studio and New York.

Check it out if you’re in the Washington, DC area. Not only is it stunning and a beautiful example of fiber art, but the colors make you feel like you’re standing in a fiber rain forest.